Wind instrument



Jan. 9, 1962 w. 'HOHNER 3,

WIND INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 4. 1959 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

. WALTER HOHvER 9 1 BY ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 9, 1962 3,015,980 W INSTRUMENT Walter Hohner, Trossingen, Wurttemberg, Germany, assignor to M. Hohner, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 838,090 13 Claims. (Cl. 84-377) The present invention relates generally to improvements in musical instruments and it relates more particularly to an improved wind instrument of the multiple reed type such as harmonicas and the like.

The conventional harmonica is generally of very limited versatility, requiring long and arduous practice to become expert at playing it. Even to one proficient in its use, the harmonica offers little flexibility and range. Although harmonicas have been devised which provide a chromatic scale, these are so constructed that the half tones and full tones can be played selectively only alternatively and can not be played simultaneously. It is thus immediately apparent that the harmonica, as a musical instrument, offers only limited scope. Harmonica type instruments have been suggested which permit the concurrent playing of full tones and half tones, but'these have left much to be desired and have enjoyed no commercial success.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved musical instrument.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wind instrument of the multireed type such as a harmonica or the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved harmonica type musical instrument provided with a chromatic scale in which the full tones and half tones may be played either independently or simultaneously.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a finger key actuated multireed wind instrument provided with a plurality of octaves of the chromatic scale.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved musical instrument of the above nature which is of simple, rugged and inexpensive construction, is of great versatility, range and flexibility and is easy to learn and play.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunct with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an improved instrument embodying the present invention, illustrated partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, partially in section and partially broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom fragmentary view of the trailing portion of the base board and reed plate at a reduced scale; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective fragmentary view of the key supporting bracket plate.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved multireed wind instrument comprising an elongated base board, having formed in the base thereof laterally spaced first and second sets of longitudinally spaced laterally extending wells and, in the upper face thereof ports communicating with each of said wells, a reed plate located on the underface of said base board and having reeds registering with each of said wells, a hollow plenum chamber defining shell registering with the underface of said reed plate and communicating with said reeds, a mouth piece communicating with said plenum chamber, a valve element registering with each of said ports and spring urged to a closed position relative thereto, and a port opening key coupled to each of said valve elements.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base board is formed of a wooden material and the reeds registering with the wells of each set resonate at full and half notes, respectively, to form a chromatic scale.

The ports are likewise longitudinally aligned in a pair of laterally spaced sets, a longitudinally extending bracket strip being mounted on the base board upper face between the sets of ports. A plurality of apertured ears project above the strip and an elongated rod extends through the apertured ears. Two sets of levers are rockably carried by the rod, each of the levers including a key defining arm and a valve arm terminating in a valve element registering with each of the ports and spring urged to a closed position. The valve arms of each set of levers are disposed between the keys of the other set of levers. The mouth piece is removable and replaceable and the plenum chamber is provided with a valved opening to permit the draining of liquid therefrom.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 10 generally designates the improved instrument including an elongated base board 11 formed of a relatively hard wood or other material having similar acoustical properties. It is highly advantageous to form the body member 11 of wood since the wood is characterized by its superior moisture absorbing properties and thereby minimizes the adverse eifects of accumulated saliva and condensed water. A pair of laterally spaced arms 12 project rearwardly from the trailing end of the base board 11 and border a rectangular recess 13. Formed in the underface of the base board 11 are a first set of regularly longitudinally spaced laterally elongated wells 14 which are located along the near edge of the base board 11 and a second set of laterally extending wells 16 located along the opposite edge of the base board 11 and disposed longi tudinally between successive groups of three and four alternately of the wells 14. Each of the wells 14 and 16 is provided with a raised shoulder portion 17 along the outer edges of the wells. Extending from the bases of the wells 14 and 16, adjacent to the stepped portions 17, to the top face of the base board 11 are circular port defining apertures 18 and 19 respectively. It should be noted that the ports 18 and 19 are in longitudinal alignment along opposite borders of the base board 11 and the wells 14 and 16 are of successively shorter length approaching the leading end of the base board 11.

Underlying the underface of the base board 11 is a metal reed plate 20 secured to the base board 11 by nails 21. Formed in the reed plate are a pair of sets of latera ly extending slots 22 of successively shorter lengths registering with the wells 14 and 16. A vibrating metal reed 23 of substantially corresponding length underlies each of the slots 22 and is provided with an enlarged outer end portion fastened to the reed plate 211 by a rivet 24, the heads of the rivets 24 registering with the well stepped portions 17. The frequencies of the vibrating reeds 23 of the two sets thereof form the full notes and half notes respectively of the chromatic scale, two octaves being provided in the present embodiment. The trailing end of the reed plate 21) has a rectangular opening 26 formed therein in registry with the base board recess 13.

elongated bracket strip 27 provided with longitudinal stiffening ridges 28. A plurality of spaced upstanding bracket elements or lugs 29 are punched and formed from and are located along the strip 27 and have aligned apertures 30 formed therein. An elongated pivot pin or rod 32 extends through the apertures 30, and is supported by the bracket elements 2% and is suitably locked in position against longitudinal movement.

Associated and cooperating with each of the ports It? and 19 is a port opening and closing valve operating lever 33. Each of the levers 33 is preferably formed of a molded plastic material and includes a relatively narrow laterally extending valve arm 34 provided with longitudinally aligned bosses 36 at its inner end. The pivot rod 32 extends through aligned openings formed in the valve arm 34 and bosses 36 to rockably support the lever 33, the lugs 29 abutting the opposite faces of the bosses 36. The valve arm 34 terminates at its outer end in a valve plate defining disc 37 in confronting relationship with a port 18 or 19, the underface of the valve plate 37 being covered with a resilient circular port closing pad 38.

A key defining valve actuating arm 39 projects lat- "erally from each of the valve arms 34 in a direction opposite that of the valve plate 37 and is raised relative to the arm 34 and is provided with an upwardly directed finger engaging surface 4t). The key 39 terminates at its outer end in an outwardly downwardly inclined skirt 41 which is provided with a bottom notch A hairpin spring 43 is provided with a helical knee portion 44 which engages the rod 32 between the opposite walls of each of the valve arms 34. The free end of the hairpin spring upper arm 46 registers with the skirt notch 42 and the lower arm 47 thereof bears against the base board 11 to resiliently urge the lever 33 to a port closing position wherein the valve plate 37 is in engagement with a corresponding port if; or 119. Located along opposite edges of the base board top face and in alignment with the key skirts 41, is a pair of felt strips 48 to soften the impact of the opening key. It should be noted that the valve keys associated with the opposite ports 18 and 1? are arranged in oppositely disposed aligned sets and preferably colored white and black respectively designating the full notes and half notes.

A mouth piece coupling member 4? is mounted in the trailing end of the base board 11 and includes a hollow chamber 50 having a bottom portion registering with the base board recess 13 and a front wall abutting the base of the recess 13. A pair of wings 51 extend laterally from the side walls of the chamber 59 and overlie the top faces of the base board arms and are provided with apertures through which extend fasteners 55 securing the coupling member 49 to the base board ill. The bottom wall of the chamber has a rectangular opening 52 formed therein registering with the reed plate opening 26. Projecting rearwardly from and communicating with the interior of the chamber 5% is a coupling conduit 53 of substantially rectangular transverse cross section. A tubular mouth piece 54 separably engages the coupling conduit 53 and includes a rear mouth section 56 of conventional configuration tapering forwardly and outwardly to an enlarged forward section 57. The mouth piece forward section 57 has a front bore of rectangular transverse cross section which tightly separably engages the outer surface of the conduit 53 and terminates at its inner end in a peripheral shoulder which abuts the trailing end of the conduit 53.

An air distributing plenum chamber 58 is located along the bottoms of the base board 11 and reed plate Ztl and is formed of metal or the like extending for substantially the full length and width of the base board if and reed plate Ztl. The plenum chamber 58 includes a bottom wall 59 and an upwardly outwardly inclined peripheral wall 6% terminating in an outwardly directed flange 9? Olhfir suitable gasket 63 is sandwiched between the peripheral flange 63 and the confronting border of the reed plate 2b. The plenum chamber 58 is suitably tightly secured to the base board ill and reed plate 2% and coupling member 49 by nails and screws. There is thereby provided an air-tight communication between the mouthpiece 54 and the vibrating reeds 23.

in order to discharge any liquid which may accumulate in the plenum chamber 558 an opening 641 is formed in the forward end of the plenum chamber bottom wall 5@. A transversely extending leaf spring 65 is located in the forward end of the plenum chamber 58 and has one end riveted to the chamber bottom wall 59. The free end of the leaf spring as has a resilient pad on its undersurface which is normally urged into closing registry with the opening 64. A finger button 66 is located on the leaf spring 65 and projects through an aligned opening in the chamber wall 59 to permit the depression of the leaf spring 65 and the selective opening of the aperture 64 thereby facilitating the draining and removal of liquid from the plenum chamber 5b.

A conveXo-concavo plate 67 covers the valve lever assembly and is provided with openings 68 registering with the keys 3% which project above the plate 67. The openings as are of greater area than the keys '39 to permit the free egress of air. A pair of screws 69 register with openings at opposite ends of the plate 67 and secure the plate 67 to the base board 11.

In operating the improved musical instrument described above, the performer merely blows through the mouthpiece 54- and depresses the desired keys 39 in the desired sequence. The corresponding ports 18 and 19 are thereby opened and the air under pressure passes from the plenum chamber 58 by the corresponding reeds 23 through the wells 14 and 16, and ports 18 and 19, and into the atmosphere through the plate openings 68. The aforesaid reeds are thus actuated and caused to vibrate to emit the selected notes. Inasmuch as any combination of notes may be simultaneously played, the melody and chord variations are almost limitless thus providing greater flexibility, versatility, range and scope not heretofore available in conventional instruments of this type. As the key board of the present instrument is arranged like a piano keyboard, the learning of the playing of the instrument is greatly simplified. When any liquid accumulates in the plenum chamber 58, it may be readily discharged as previously set forth. Moreover, in order to permit the hygienic playing of the instrument by different persons the mouthpiece 56 may be replaced by other mouthpieces.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alternations, omissions and additions, may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved wind instrument of the character described comprising an elongated base board having spaced parallel under and upper faces and having formed in the under face thereof laterally spaced first and second sets of longitudinally spaced laterally extending wells and having ports opening through the upper face thereof and communicating with each of said wells, a reed plate underlying the underface of said base board and having reeds respectively registering with each of said wells, a hollow plenum chamber defining shell enclosing the underface of said reed plate and communicating with said reeds, a mouth piece communicating with said plenum chamber, valve elements mounted on said upper face and respectively registering with each of said ports and spring urged to a closed position relating thereto, and port opening keys respectively coupled to each of said valve ele ments.

2. An improved wind instrument of the character described comprising an elongated wooden base board having spaced parallel under and upper faces and having formed in the underface thereof laterally spaced first and second sets of longitudinally spaced laterally extending wells and having ports opening through the upper face thereof and communicating with each of said wells, a reed plate underlying the underface of said base board and having reeds respectively registering with each of said wells, a hollow plenum chamber defining shell enclosing the underface of said reed plate and communicating with said reeds, a mouth piece communicating with said plenum chamber, valve elements mounted on said upper face and respectively registering with each of said ports and spring urged to a closed position relative there to, and port opening keys respectively coupled to each of said valve elements.

3. An improved wind instrument of the character de scribed comprising an elongated base board having spaced parallel under and upper faces and having formed in the underface thereof laterally spaced first ad second sets of longitudinally spaced laterally extending wells and having ports opening through the upper face thereof and communicating with each of said wells, a reed plate underlying the undersurface of said base board and having reeds respectively registering with each of said wells, a hollow plenum chamber defining shell enclosing the undersurface of said reed plate and communicating with said reeds, said shell having a fluid discharge port formed in the Wall thereof, a valve element normally closing said discharge port and movable to an open position, a mouth piece communicating with said plenum chamber, valve elements mounted on said upper face and respectively registering with each of said ports and spring urged to a closed position relative thereto, and port opening keys respectively coupled to each of said valve elements.

4. An improved wind instrument of the character described comprising an elongated base board having spaced parallel under and upper faces and having formed in the underface thereof laterally spaced first and second sets of longitudinally spaced laterally extending wells and having ports opening through the upper face thereof and communicating with each of said Wells, a reed plate underlying the underface of said base board and having reeds respectively registering with each of said wells, a hollow plenum chamber defining shell enclosing the underface of said reed plate and communicating with said reeds, a mouth piece communicating with said plenum chamber, first and second laterally spaced sets of longitudinally spaced finger actuated keys pivotally mounted on the upper face of said base board, each of said keys being provided with a valve element registering with a corresponding port and movable between an open and closed position, and spring means normally urging said valve elements to closed positions.

5. An improved wind instrument of the character described comprising an elongated base board having spaced parallel under and upper faces and having formed in the underface thereof laterally spaced first and second sets of longitudinally spaced laterally extending wells and having first and second laterally spaced sets of longitudinally spaced ports opening through said upper face and respectively communicating with said wells, a reed plate underlying the underface of said base board and having reeds respectively registering with each of said wells, a hollow plenum chamber defining shell enclosing the underface of said reed plate and communicating with said reeds, a mouthpiece communicating with said plenum chamber, first and second sets of longitudinally spaced levers pivotally mounted, at points intermediate the ends thereof, on the upper face of said base board and including first and second sets of key defining arms extending in opposite directions laterally of said upper face and terminating in valve elements registering with the respective ports of said first and second sets, and spring means normally urging said valve elements into closing engagement with said ports.

6. An improved wind instrument in accordance with claim 5 wherein the said keys in each of said sets of levers are in longitudinal alignment and said longitudinally ali ned sets of keys are laterally spaced.

7. An improved wind instrument in accordance with claim 6 wherein said valve elements are on arms of each of said sets of levers and extend between the key defining arms of said other sets of levers.

8. An improved Wind instrument in accordance with claim 5 wherein said levers are pivotally mounted along a right line disposed between said sets of ports.

9. An improved wind instrument in accordance with claim 5 including a longitudinally extending bracket strip mounted on the upper face of said base board between said sets of ports, a plurality of longitudinally spaced ears located on said bracket strip and having aligned openings formed therein and an elongated rod extending through said aligned openings and engaging corresponding openings formed in said levers intermediate the ends thereof.

10. An improved Wind instrument in accordance with claim 9 wherein said spring means includes a plurality of hairpin springs having helical knee portions embracing said elongated rod and arms entrapped between said base board and said key defining arms,

ll.- An improved wind instrument in accordance with claim 5 including a shell shaped cover mounted on the upper face of said base plate and having openings formed therein registering with said keys, said keys projecting above said cover and the sides thereof being spaced from the edges of said registering openings.

12. An improved wind instrument in accordance with claim 5 wherein the reeds registering with said wells of said first and second sets thereof resonate at frequencies corresponding to full notes and half notes respectively to define a chromatic scale.

13. An improved wind instrument in accordance with claim 5 wherein said base board is formed of wood.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

